'Modiji, strike mafia, not students': Rahul Gandhi after Telegram ban
What's the story
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has slammed the central government's decision to temporarily block Telegram in India. The ban, which will last until June 22, was imposed ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination on June 21. The National Testing Agency (NTA) said it aims to prevent cheating networks and misinformation. However, Gandhi said the move is akin to punishing the victims rather than the perpetrators.
Criticism voiced
'Instead of catching the thief, just put a lock...'
In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, "'Telegram Ban'—Modi government's new trick to stop paper leaks. Meaning, instead of catching the thief, just put a lock on the victim's door." He also pointed out that Telegram is used by lakhs of students for studying and preparation. "How does snatching that facility become the solution to paper leaks? And it's not even foolproof... So, who will the next ban be on? WhatsApp?" he asked.
Exam
Gandhi said government focusing on optics
Gandhi said the government was focusing on optics rather than addressing the root cause of examination malpractice. "On exam day, students will be frisked. Pockets will be cut open with scissors. Question papers will be sent via the Air Force. There won't be any shortage of theatrics. But not a single strike at the root of the disease -- because the paper leak mafia is thriving under....government's watch...Modi Ji -- drop the theatrics. Strike at the mafia, not...students," he said.
CEO's response
Telegram CEO calls India ban a mistake
Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov also slammed the ban, calling it a mistake that hurt millions of legitimate users. "India's IT ministry banned Telegram for one week because some users shared leaked exam questions. This punishes 150M+ ordinary Telegram users in India -- not the insiders who leaked the exam materials. And the ban hasn't stopped anything. The leaks just moved to other apps." "Banning it, even temporarily, is a mistake," Durov said in a post on X.
Defense and plans
Congress to hold student conventions nationwide
Defending the ban, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh said it was necessary to ensure a fair examination process. "We will not let anything go wrong," he said. The Congress party is planning nationwide student conventions to highlight issues such as paper leaks and rising examination costs. The first of these events will be held in Kota, Rajasthan, where Gandhi will interact with students ahead of the NEET-UG re-exam.